Micro Palette and 6 Colors I Chose to Put In

Because of all the interest in my Altoids Tin Micro Palette and choosing the 6 colors to go in it, I thought it would be fun to make a video about what I chose and why. Hope its useful and enjoyable.
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[@FluffJika]

This 5-year-old video has shown me how to actually fit all the 6 pans I wanna use inside my favorite little tin box (it has a cat on it) so I don't have to compromise with another boring one. Huge thanks for that one! Now watching the rest of the video so I can doubt my color choices :D

[@Tzuriah]

I put my smalls palette inside a regular Altoids tin along with a pencil stub, a kneaded eraser half, a piece of sponge and a sawed off brush (yes, I’m armed and dangerous! AND it’s not illegal! Lol!). You’ve chosen some interesting colors. I would like to see what you’ve painted with this.

[@JuneK618]

This is so helpful. I’m new to watercolor. It has been very overwhelming trying to pick out professional grade colors as I can only afford a very limited supplies.

[@lizq4715]

I'd be interested in seeing some examples of what you paint with this palette. Great vlog.

[@AF-yq6ew]

yesss it's like he described all the characters in the book, but didn't tell the story!!!

[@SharingInsights]

Would love to see some mixes from those colours

[@maryhazlett]

Same - want to know how the palette/colors worked out. I'm using Art Toolkit's pocket and Demi palettes.

[@marionsutcliffe1119]

You can take the lid off a 2nd tin and pressure fit it onto the bottom of the 1st tin (not my idea). Bulldog clip the edges together when in use if you want. Doubles your mixing area!

[@tjduprey]

Reminds me of my 40 year old teeny tiny cotman palette. Still carry it around filled with winsor newton paints of course.

[@blueplague5911]

Wow what an interesting palette. This is probably one of the first watercolor vlogs I follow that hasn't opted for the brightest colors they could fit in a tin.

[@VanmeterFL]

Instead of painting the inside of my lids on boxes I've converted into palettes, I've discovered I can use white Gorilla Grip Peel and Stick Adhesive Removable Liner. I cut pieces to fit the inside of the lid (and up the sides) and change them out easily if they stain (I left my phthalos on the surface for a month and they all cleaned off with just a bit of Master's Brush Cleaner). I found a 4"x3"x1/2" vintage cigarette case (with the spring lid) and made a little palette from it (removing the little spring arm to hold cigarettes in place was the only challenge, but the spring open lid remains and is an added benefit). It holds 12 full and 4 half pans perfectly (or 9 full-sized and 3 half pans, a travel brush, and a pencil). I was determined to find a palette that fits under the band on my Rosemary & Co leather brush wallet and gave me the most # of pans! The 4"x3" mixing surface is a dream, too! BTW, you can easily add a stick-on loop to the bottom (the ones they sell for smartphones).

[@markdonovan1540]

I have a few mini-palettes of 3, 6 or 8 colour sets. I avoid tins with embossed lids so that I can use the inside of the lid for mixing and then clean it easily. Some souvenir soaps often come in small decorative tins that are ideal for this. My mini-palletes are as follows: Primary palette 1 (Karuteke paints): rose madder, lemon yellow & indigo. Primary palette 2 (QoR paints): manganese blue, hansa yellow medium & quinacridone magenta. Primary set 3 (St. Petersburg): ultramarine blue, cadmium yellow & cadmium red. X6 half-pan secondaries plus: Payne's grey, raw umber, turquoise blue, permanent orange, yellowish green, violet rose. X8 half-pan earth, neutral and orange/ yellows: burnt sienna, burnt umber, vandyke brown, Payne's grey, pyrrol orange, Naples yellow deep, new gamboge, Indian yellow X8 half-pan red tones: carmine, alizarin crimson, quinacridone rose, opera pink, madder lake deep, quinacridone purple blue, quinacridone purple red, permanent red violet. (Not a very balanced set, but it is what I had left over from various previous sets). X8 half-pan blues and greens: Cerulean Blue, Phthalo Blue, French Ultramarine, Turquoise Blue, Dusk Yellow (it looks greenish to me!), Yellow Green, Hooker's Green, Deep Green. Depending on what I'm painting, I'll take one of the primary palettes and one or two of the others. I also have larger palettes of custom mix 23, 24 and 29 paints. You could say that I've gone a bit overboard, but that's what happens when one goes deep into the watercolour rabbit hole...

[@condorreades2148]

I love the teeny tiny Altoids tin for a palette. That is just great!

[@providencevalleyfarm5270]

Brilliant, I couldn't see a configuration that worked!

[@therocketjones]

When I make my tins like that, I use poster blu-tack (the clay-like stuff) to hold down the pans. It raises them a bit higher inside the tin, and they're removable if I want to change out a pan. Now I have to pick up a couple of tubes to try this set of colors. :)

[@99snapsnap]

I glue thin magnet tape on the back of the half-pans. Then you can move them round, but they don’t tip out.

[@HajraMeeks]

Really loved your thoughtful color choices, Steve, they'll be so helpful to folks! I liked every single one, and you are so right about Viridian over phthalo green, and Moonglow (and Sodalite and a few other hue-biased neutrals) are my favorite DS colors. Plus the palette is just teeny-adorable, which makes it double awesome to me! I think if you ever get the time, you could lightly sand and then gesso and paint the cover (with permanent paints). I always tell myself I'll paint my palette lids and then never get around to it. :p--but I think one of your landscapes as mini art on the lid would make this palette just one of a kind.

[@mindofwatercolor]

Hah, cool idea! thanks for dropping by my watercolor sis!

[@justtheletterV274]

The Mind of Watercolor Viridian ain’t stopping me

[@laceandloom]

Love the colors! I would really like to see you paint with the new micro-palette! Thank you for sharing your time and talent!

[@glorioskiola]

Love these color choices! Thanks for the video!

[@JorjaZanetta]

My favourite thing is create palettes...❤️

[@goat8477]

In terms of tiny palettes, I have discovered eyeshadow palettes for that purpose. They come with built-in pans, many have mirrors in the lid (I have not attempted to paint those white). And most of them are quite flat. My smallest one is about 3 mm high and holds 6 flat pans. I either use my old used-up eyeshadow palettes or buy new cheap ones because I scrape out the crummy eyeshadow powders anyway. I look for good sized pans and for lids that fold all the way back to lie flat when open. Are the practical? Wellllll…… the small mixing area is a minus. But they are soooo cute!

[@chantelmcskimming6633]

What great fun!!! I so want to do this -- YAY!!!!! 😀

[@helenmason8990]

What a gorgeous pallet

[@spydercrowley9662]

Very informative explanation of your choices. I'm definitely going to check all of them out.

[@fr7115]

Beautiful selection... Not the typical ones! : )

[@richardlumpkin4607]

Great insight into the mind of watercolor!

[@dianeo]

I love the intense and thorough consideration you gave each color. Can't wait to see the paintings created from this palette!

[@dawnbartlettbrown]

Agree on the Moonglow!!! Oh my gosh I just love it!!

[@skz97395]

Really enjoyed ur explanations and observations in this video

[@lulugregory3246]

Look forward to seeing your first outing with this little palette!

[@koskey06]

I cant wait to throw this togeather. I'm a beginner with watercolor. And most artist grade sets just have to many colors that I dont find myself really mixing at all. And artist grade kits are a lil more money than I want to spend on bbn paints I dont know much about. But 6 tubes is doable, and I really like the warmth of these colors. And I'm taking your word that they will play well togeather mixing since you have way more experience than me. I might grab a few tubes of a more traditional primary colors as well. But for what I like to paint, urban landscape, I think these colors are perfect

[@pam.g.56]

Very anxious to see you using the new micro palette, hope you make a video. Love your color choices!

[@flooklh]

Thank you. I love that micro palette, too cute. I can't wait to see you use it and create one of your stunning en plein air paintings.

[@samcee2805]

I really love your channel. I have learned so much and love your sense of humour.

[@lurklingX]

good ol' PB60! :D fell in love with the 1st one i tried (da vinci), and how absolutely dark and rich this pigment can go, but recently got into m. graham paints again and picked one up. beautiful! (i always think of you as the m. graham guy. might not even be your top paint at this point, but noone talked about them as much as you. i love when artists have a preferred brand, or even colors, and articulate WHY. :) thanks for this channel. i always love coming back to it when i get on a watercolor kick, even rewatching older vids like this one. cheers!)

[@ColleenM61]

Interesting selection. Cannot wait to see what you create with it :

[@Ruby-wise]

Moonglow has become one of my favs! Great palette.

[@davefletch3063]

Great lil kit. I am going to do one for myself

[@sandrapatterson5240]

A lot of good info. Thank-you. I have made quite a few mini palettes that I bring with me to coffeehouses etc.

[@Yvonne_Reeder]

Ooooooh!!! I can't wait to see the first plays with these choices! I'm a huge fan of D'S Moonglow too but am fully enamoured with both of their Paynes Greys and Neutral Tint.

[@colleenmcchesney1482]

Ohh wow that’s awesome! I now have 4 more new colors besides Viridian & Moonglow to check out. Definitely did not think that would hold 6 half pans. Thanks for sharing this wonderful informational video with us.

[@katepanthera7265]

These are all gorgeous colors, and spot-on for jewel tones. I love that you picked moonglow - it's one of my favorite colors.

[@essietangle9931]

Mar-vel-ous!!!! Thanks Steve, hope you have a great time trying this....out, outside that is.

[@GabrielleMarinArt]

This is great! Super informative and I love that you found a way to fit in that 6th pan. I wish you had filmed the part where you fill them though, it's always so satisfying to watch!

[@angelarafael9875]

I enjoy watching you make your mini palette...i always learn something from your videos,thanks a lot :3

[@katiebechtel9320]

I loved this video. I would love to see a video of all the things you can do with it or using out in plein air. I’m in the process of making my own limited pallet like this and I have a hard time picking colors so this was very helpful!

[@yuelina9221]

This is the cutest little palette omg. :D

[@katf3836]

I love the DS Moonglow. It's gorgeous!! I love this palette. I won a mini travel palette that I just love! I am ready to start making my own now!! I love your out of the box thinking on this!!

[@marjoriejohnson6535]

I would have loved to see you use this palette en plein aire. ...also when i used to make little palettes, i always did an Alec Kudrow style color mixing guide to see what colors i was going to accomplish. The only problem i had was either beach or city colors as I am not as familiar with either.

[@rgrdesigns]

That's my favorite blue. Good to know about the veridian paint. I tend to mix my greens, but that looks like a good one to buy. Looking forward to seeing what you paint from this palette.

[@tmp0922]

I have to say theses were great choices even the moon glow was a good choice. Great vid bro thanks!

[@lenaelitzinger8382]

This micro palette idea is awesome! Love it. Going to make them with my high school students in a few weeks. Just added packs of small Altoids to my Amazon cart. I really enjoy your videos.

[@maymay2769]

Anthraquinone blue is my favorite- especially from M Graham. I was happy to see thats the one you chose, it's a beautiful color and actually really versatile!

[@AmyGiglio7683]

I absolutely love the idea of a jewel toned palette! I recently tried moonglow myself and really love incorporating it into my work. Now to find one of those mini Altoid tins....lol

[@bruce-le-smith]

Subscribed, this is great content, thank you. I've had a couple of the bigger tins stashed to make small pin hole cameras, but now one will become a travel palette! I have a couple of the Winsor & Newton travel kits but have been dreaming of a smaller stripped down bug out commando palette. Thanks for the inspiration. I agree that it would be great to see the field tests of this invention, and to see some colour wheels and how you overcome some blending challenges with these colours in the great outdoors!

[@bevann716]

Great video Steve. I love how you explain why you chose the colors that you did. I can’t wait to see you do a pic with your choices. I am so curious as to how these colors work together... this might just give me an excuse to purchase one or two tubes of color that I don’t have but have been wanting to try...... like that lovely blue. ❤️ Thank you for sharing.

[@pamelastewart604]

Nice to use the magnetic strips

[@EveBolt]

Oooooh, super interesting selection of colors! I loved hearing your thoughts behind each choice and I can't wait to see these in action!!! :D

[@mindofwatercolor]

Thanks Eve! Can't wait to put them into action. Stay tuned! 😊

[@azzuparis]

Hi Steve, I really like your colours combination. It's pretty unusual, at least for me but it looks like they mix great together. Also a tiny palette gives you the opportunity to try colours you don't use often. Thanks for sharing :)

[@jillbartos8893]

I'm going to make one of these, so tiny, it'll be perfect for traveling this summer. Can't wait to see your colors in action. I like to use Repositionable Glue Dots, holds pans securely yet they can be removed easily. Another interesting video, Steve.

[@monicaarredondo6847]

Loved the color selection ... would it be great to see a color chart made with them 😊🎨

[@barbararichards7202]

Thank you so much! I can't afford any moonglow but managed to replicate the colour thanks to you. Those colours are wonderful, you've encouraged me to use a different palette to the one with ocres that are making my watercolours muddy.I don't have some of those colours so I've substituted single pigment transparent colours that I did have and the painting I did tonight is fresh and not muddy at all!. Thank you so much xx

[@wildlingshomeschool7347]

I have several micro palettes. I use them to separate my split primary palettes. I'm still a beginner so trying to learn color thoery!! Thank you so much your channel is fantastic and I'm learning so much ❤❤

[@synopsisrewriten2849]

very fun video. Now I want to give those colors a try. I have always loved transparent quin colors. but never tried those ones/brands you have on this palette. I love those colors!!

[@katpaints]

Perfect! I've not tried Quin Rust but Quin Burnt Orange is a favorite. M. Graham's Viridian is my favorite, not just because they make it just down I-205 from me, but because Viridian is normally horrible for rewetting. Every other brand I've tried leaves me with nasty crumbles but because of the honey, this one rewets beautifully and consistently! Seriously, you've picked some of my favorite odd colors! Anthraquinone/Indanthrone Blue amazed me when I discovered it! The thing I would have done differently was to glue magnet strips to the bottom of those pans just because you can change your mind - or when something spills in the palette, you can clean it out. All in all, I think you've got a winner!

[@GabrielleCarbonneau]

Loves me some Steve Mitchell and the mind of watercolor! Another great video. Thank you sir!

[@mindofwatercolor]

😄

[@vaughnemett4545]

Steve, your materials lists and amazon links in the comments of your videos are very helpful. Thanks for being so thorough.

[@mindofwatercolor]

My pleasure Vaughn.

[@hawkowldolphin]

So made the palette. Getting six pans in was tougher than it looks. But it fit. Now I am the envy of all the urban sketchers. Can’t wait to use it in the field or anywhere!

[@mindofwatercolor]

Awesome!

[@neyo509]

love the marvel shirt!

[@kevinheller1145]

Thanks Steve!...Happy Memorial Day!!

[@mindofwatercolor]

Right back at you Kevin!

[@eunicej]

Beautiful colours. Would be interesting to see how they mix together.

[@nicsluckytw1]

love your vids... you picked a lovely pallet! only 1 tip? I use some magnetic strip on the bottom of the pans so I can remove and clean. I love your style and have watched you for a very long time! you have taught me so much. I couldn't have come so far along in my art without you. God bless and I hope you keep sharing your love for watercolor!

[@q2x38b]

Awesome vid you really explained your colors well👍🏻🤟😊🙂

[@JaredCullum]

Interesting to see your choices. Great video. I picked up the gel pen tip from you and at first i wasn’t sure but after carrying one I take it everywhere with me now.

[@mindofwatercolor]

Yeah, it latches on like a lost puppy. Its great!

[@jessicarushton96]

Amazing ! :D

[@MalamikArt]

Great choices! These will all work together well! Glad you chose Viridian green! Can't wait to see you do a piece with only these colors.

[@TheSgyro]

Soo cute 😁

[@smgonyoapache]

Love your color choices. Looking forward to seeing what you paint with them....maybe during the 30x30 challenge??

[@condorreades2148]

I have a couple of very small WN Cotman travel palettes - as I use up the student grade paint in sketchbooks, I refill with professional grade.

[@lilac_lottie]

yuuuuz dadddd finally new colorsssss!!! the PR122 version of magenta is a better mixer. Its easier to mix much cleaner neutrals and stuff. Not sure if you have tried it already.

[@emilie12321]

I actually made one of these years ago, didn't use pans divided using thin plastic and got 23 colors in it. Also glued on a wrist sweat band so I could keep on my wrist not have to hold it. also works as a towel to wipe my brushed. wish I could post the picture

[@tombryan720]

The m grahm rust is a favorite of mine

[@ArielleLavecchia]

I love Daniel Smith's Moonglow, and Lunar Blue for neutrals. Lunar blue makes an instant shadow or night sky. Moonglow on the other hand calls for adventurous inventive uses.

[@esrajp]

I looooove watching your videos, seriously :)

[@dgassilem]

I made myself a tiny palette in a sucrets tin just last week, but instead of putting pans inside, I sprayed the whole thing with white enamel paint and put some dots of watercolor paints on the sides of the tin. That way have more mixing area and I can add more colors since I'm not too limited by the space. Maybe you could try that in your other altoid tin.

[@davefletch3063]

The white enamel is a great idea

[@alexandrahubner6736]

I would love to see something painted with this palette.

[@lilianshen]

Hi Steve, great video. I saw your recent IG story about the watercolor paper samples; if you ask Strathmore to send you some of their paper samples they'll send it in a really nice sketchbook. One of the nicest I've seen.

[@ZsoltiAnglia]

The pocket palette and bijou box I prefer.

[@Sandrinesgallery]

Beautiful choice of colors. Now I'll have to try that anthraquinone, I'm intrigued! I hope you show us this little palette in action, or rather, YOU in action, using it! Hehe! Thank you for sharing.

[@mindofwatercolor]

Will do! 😀

[@Sandrinesgallery]

Excellent, I can't wait!

[@jenniewebb7369]

Hi Steve, I love this video and seeing how and why you made your six non-traditional colour selections. I'm a newly-converted fan of Moonglow, it's so versatile. Now we all want to see a video of you using your new micro palette to do a painting. Pretty please?!

[@mindofwatercolor]

Will do.

[@alisonhendry2928]

NowTHAT is the best tiny tin EVER! Of course I have put my own tin together after many many many hours of testing and feeling I MUST have this or that and now you have this. I LOVE all the colours! I am not sad that I am about to travel without your ideas, but the beauty of the little pans is they COME OUT! Guess I am going to go eat some altoids! And set this tin up for my next trip. Or maybe go back to the studio and change out what I have... hmmm. You are the BEST! Love watching you and filling my iPhone notes with your thoughts and ideas. Viridian... thank you! Moon Glow! As a neutral? Now that dang tube isn’t going to go to waste! Three cheers and may the force be with you, Always!

[@mindofwatercolor]

Thanks for the kind comments Alison!

[@katriter1]

I have made a palette using the regular Altoids tin using water bottle caps to hold the paint and I am excited to try the tiny tin. Thanks for the advice on colors.

[@elflordsjourneys]

Kat Boyd Great idea on the caps!😀

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Hey Steve, very interesting to see your creative picks for this micro palette. When you started to lay down that nickle quinacridone gold as your yellow (it's one I'm not familiar with), I thought you had lost your mind! But I should have known better and trusted you, cuz when you diluted it, wham, there was that beautiful yellow. You're right, it can bend to warm or cool. Excellent vid!!! I love learning from you!

[@OutdoorEducatorLS]

This is such a helpful video. Thank you. I am very new to water colour and do it primarily for art therapy. That said, I want to learn to do it better; this has really helped with this selection of colour and the like. I have a Windsor Newton small pallet with about 12 different colours. My next job is to make a sheet with the different colours so I know how what they look like in their fullness and in their washes. A learning curve. Finding difficult to get 300lb watercolour paper from the shop in the UK. No art stores near me. Online job - anyone have any good suggestions where you doing get ripped off, that would be great.

[@marjoriejohnson6535]

Almost 20 years ago I made my smallest palette from a business card holder and the metal tins I popped out of a dollar store make up palette. Now you can buy them....mine holds 10 colors and it is just fine to use a size 6 isabey pocket brush...used to use a da Vinci brush but lost it in the woods.

[@maryanharrell5642]

Steve, I loved this! I hate to throw away those tins, and what great little palettes they make! Daniel Smith's Moonglow is one of my favorites. I am excited to learn about the other colors you put in this palette. I think your choices are amazing!

[@mindofwatercolor]

Thanks Maryan!

[@debramoss2267]

Wonderfully inspiring, I guessed 4 out of 6, didn't get moonglow, or the magenta, the latter's range I only became aware of a couple of weeks ago, it's beautiful. Now have to track down similarly sized tins in the UK, 'oh no', she cried, 'I'll have to eat a lot of sweets, all for the sake of my art.' Such sacrifices we make. Thanks for another exciting challenge. :)

[@mindofwatercolor]

😄

[@hibernogirl]

Marks and Spencer do a mini tin of mints👍

[@Vermiliontea]

I once made an eight color mini palette to take on a journey. A different philosophy than yours, I wanted to be able to mix as wide range of colors as possible. I wasn't happy with it during the journey. It didn't work as well as I had hoped. The main problem was that some of the paints I had chosen weren't strong enough to work well in deep mixes. Like Quinacridone Red (that was the biggest mistake, if you take only one red - and no browns - , make it a strong one), Lemon Benzimidazolone and Manganese Blue (hue), very nice subtractive primary colors, both of them, but not strong enough. If I tried that again, I think I would bring Ultramarine, Phthalo Blue GS, Yellow Benzimidazolone, Pyrrole Red, Quinacridone Rose and finally Quinacridone Magenta or Violet. About Viridian: PG18. The pigment itself is troublesome in watercolors. M Graham's version is the best (I guess it's the honey).

[@kerrym5424]

Ooooo, really liked the choices. I’d love to see a painting using this itty-bitty pallet. By the way, what paint spray did you use on the inside lid to make it a better mixing tray? Does that give it a porcelain feel? Thank you again! Love your videos so much!

[@iamtugrul7741]

Your videos very fine for me. And when am i doing watercolour im thinking you and im doing good art. Thank you the mind of the watercolour and i want to heart please.😊😊

[@JamesPliny]

Micro Palette is of interest because I am always looking for something very light for backpacking and/or travel. It isn't a difficult decision to take or not take art supplies with me when I can make it a very light package that fits in my backpack easily and doesn't add a lot of weight.

[@kellyro77]

Beautiful color choices. I was waiting to see you mix them! Mix chart next? haha. I have that same Altoids tin set up as a mini-palette - thanks for showing how to cram in 6 pans! I'll have to do a little re-arranging.

[@PuppetMaster8707]

I love mini palettes they are great for sure I use mine everyday I don't need no 12 color palette I enjoy using 6 I just skipped the lid painting and I mix my colors on my hand

[@tombryan720]

I've been buying most of my paint from wetpaint and they have the m grahm line and i love it. I'd also like to try their oil paint sometime. The quin rust is a one of a kind color for sure. I hope Daniel smith remakes your line again.